Filming Science Shows: Using the Scientific Method

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Science

Scientific Method

Design Process

Writing

Communication Literacy

Research Skills

Script Writing

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Having students understand the scientific method is something that all teachers strive to teach. How can we take this process and adapt it to 21st century skills. Have students design their own experiment is a great way to really see if your kids are fully understanding the scientific method. Growing up, most of us were taught that the scientific process was a a linear progression of steps. However, if we really want to prepare our students for the 21st century, we need them to see that we are constantly innovating, testing, and iterating. Having students understand that this method has become more of a design thinking cycle is having your students really master what it is to "think like a scientist."

Attempting to evolve this method into the 21st century, I worked with the humanities teacher, and together we had students not just create their own experiments, but also film and edit a science show. Students got to see first hand how humanities and science go hand in hand. Using communication literacy to portray their thoughts and processes, was a key point to this project and the students loved creating this as opposed to just writing a lab report. This adaptation of a lab report also really helps with the feedback and iterating process that we tend to leave out or not have time for as teachers. If we want our students to take risks, we must allow them to receive feedback and then give them time to implement the feedback so they can learn how to better create and innovate.